Happy Holidays

 

I hope this list of reasons to "marry a teacher" will make you smile.  They are all SO true and also reasons you should get extra gifts from Santa, too!  The last year and a half has been a roller coaster of ups and downs; difficult times in our field.  What I do know is that I wouldn't want to go through it with any other team.  All of you are resilient, hard working, kind and true heroes in my book.  

I hope all of you have a restful break.  You deserve every minute of it!   Happy Holidays!!!!  

Important Information: 

    Professional Development Day:  Our first day back from break will be January 4th and it will be a professional development day.  We do plan to take some time to work in our PLCs to prepare for second semester, dig into state assessments, and get back to deliberate practice with our teaching elements (the goals in you SFS.)  As always, we will provide lunch and it will be a great day to prepare for the next half of our school year.  I will send a specific agenda next week.    

Testing Dates:  Spring time brings more tests!  We are not scared of tests because we have been doing the work.  I did want to share the test dates with you for your planning.  Please let me know if you have any questions.   HERE is a link to the testing windows.  We will send specific details closer to the testing window. 

       ALSO NOTE:  The SAT test will be given all in one day.  The window is available for students with accommodations who need extra time and it takes more than one day.  Most students will sit for the test just like a normal PSAT exam - 8:00 - 12:00ish.  Lunch will be later in the day for these students.  

Final Exams: Just a reminder that finals will be Tuesday and Wednesday this week:  Tuesday - 2,4,6 and Wednesday - 1,3,5,7.  Please have meaningful work for your students.  Seniors will be reporting to internships on Wednesday, so please make a plan with them.  

Grades Due:  Grades will roll over at midnight on January 5th.  If you need to give a student an incomplete, please let Jody or Phil know and we can make changes in the gradebook as we need to for you!

Holiday Celebration Lunch - Our Holiday Lunch will be Wednesday, December 22nd.  Come Hungry!  I know some of you like to eat in your classrooms together.  The Health Lab will be open during that time as well.  Looking forward to a great day!

Also, to celebrate the last three days - I think JEANS are appropriate.  

I get to return on Tuesday!  Looking forward to seeing everyone!!  

       

Authentic = Genuine

This month, we have been focusing on the first dimension of teacher credibility: TRUST.  We know that trust among teacher/student, teacher/teacher and teacher/principal is necessary for the best learning to occur.  Annette Baier, a New Zealand philosopher, says there are 5 elements that are important to build trust in our culture: 

   Benevolence: Assurance that others will not exploit one's vulnerability or take advantage when they opportunity is available

   Honesty: People of character, integrity and authenticity

   Openness:  Openness signals reciprocal of trust

   Reliability: Consistency of behavior and knowing what to expect from others

   Competency:  The ability to perform as expected and according to standards appropriate to the task at hand

Trevor Muir posted this YouTube video on his Facebook page this week.  It is a PERFECT example of what authenticity and trust can bring to the culture of the classroom.

Don't forget to turn your BINGO card in by Wednesday for another round of drawings!!!    

Important Information:

Leaders of Learning - Thanks to those of you who were willing to be vulnerable and give the Leaders of Learning a try!  I think you will find it to be a great Professional Development Opportunity.  Just a reminder we will meet from 5:15 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. this Wednesday, December 15th in the high school library.  See you there!

Lunch and Learn - This Wednesday, December 15th from 11:00 - 1:30 we will be hosting a Lunch and Learn in the Engineering Department for several state and local government representatives.  We are excited about the opportunity to share the great work of our students and school.  I will send a list of students who are involved in the next day or so for attendance purposes. 

Faculty Meeting - We will have a faculty meeting on Tuesday morning at 7:25 a.m.  For this meetings, we will be debriefing the lockdown situation we had last week and having a little Holiday Team Building.  For this meeting, we are inviting assistants if they are interested.  It is voluntary for assistants, but if you want to listen to the debrief, you are welcome to come in and do that.  We will have breakfast!  

Holiday Cheer:  The student council developed a list of Dress-Up Days to help spread Holiday Cheer this week!  Phil is also planning to have hot chocolate available to students on Friday.  (He will send some details for this in the next few days.)  

       Monday:  Holiday Pajamas

       Tuesday: Santa Hats, Reindeer Ears and Christmas Socks

       Wednesday:  Red (for Ed) and Green (for PC)

       Thursday: Grinches vs. the Whoville Who's

       Friday:  Ugly Christmas Sweater/Hot Chocolate

Other Dates: 

        

         December 22nd - Christmas Lunch - Merry Christmas from the High School Office

                                     - House Competition 6th & 7th periods

         

Marble Jar Friends

Important Information: 

Early College Mentor Meeting - Reminder to those who have received an invitation (basically individuals who teach high school all day long) - December 7th 7:30 a.m. 

Vulnerability BINGO - Don't forget to work on your BINGO cards!  We will have our first drawing on Wednesday!

COVID Update - We are seeing an increase in positive COVID cases.  Just a reminder that seating charts are very important.  All of you have been so helpful in making our quarantine process easy.  HERE is the COVID exclusion list.  There will probably be a few more added after the weekend, so you may check it a little later in the morning as well. Most students are able to use an 8 day quarantine which limits the number of days they miss.  If you have students that are getting behind and you are worried about them, please let us know so we can help make an academic plan.  Please let us know if you have questions!

Faculty Meeting - We will have our December Faculty Meeting on December 14th at 7:25 a.m. - Mark your Calendars!  :-)  

College Students Return - Dana is pulling together a great presentation as some of our college freshmen will return and share their college experiences with our juniors and seniors.   The rule is that you don't share anything that you wouldn't share with your grandma!   Students will be here on December 20th.  Seniors will go to the presentation during 2nd period and juniors 3rd.  More details to come!

Finals - Just a reminder that Final Exam days will be December 21st (even periods), December 22nd (odd periods).  We know that finals do not have to be cumulative, but there should be a meaningful assessment/activity for every class.  It could be a final test for the unit you are on, presentations that will hold all students accountable, or other ways to assess learning.  Grades will not be due until January 5th. 

Winter Break Lunch - We will host our Winter Break Lunch on Wednesday, December 22nd.  Something to look forward to!!!

Candy Cane Carnival - The Candy Cane Carnival is this Wednesday along with the High School Band Concert in the high school gym.  Be on the look out for times (sorry, I couldn't find them tonight.)

Nothing better than dissecting frogs!  Mrs. Walsh's students were all fired up about learning about the anatomy and physiology of these creatures!  :-)  

Vivian Galey traveled to Jasper Engines and presented her project to their leadership team.  She reversed engineered a door panel for them and found the stress points where the door was struggling.  She also used her 3D printing skills to print the entire door and make all of the parts to scale and functional.  It was a great project.  We are proud of her!